Malayalam’s biggest superstar went to Tamil to do one movie; returned after signing 55 projects in a year, thanks to MGR’s encouragement

One of the most celebrated actors in Indian cinema of his era, he appeared in a whopping 720 films as a lead actor and even bagged a Guinness World Record.

He is widely regarded as one of the most celebrated actors in Indian cinema of his era. (Express archive photo)

While Malayalam cinema has witnessed the rise of several stars over the years, the question of who among them is the most successful and influential of all time is almost cut and dried, requiring no debate. In the ’50s and ’60s, when the regional film industry was yet to expand its horizons, he played a key role in making it beloved to the masses and making inroads into the audience’s hearts, paving the way for its strong future. And the person we are talking about is none other than Prem Nazir, often referred to as Nithyaharitha Nayakan (Evergreen Hero).

One of the most celebrated actors in Indian cinema of his era, Prem Nazir appeared in a whopping 720 films as a lead actor. He also acted opposite the same heroine (Sheela) in 130 films, thus bagging the Guinness World Record for “longest screen partnership.” Besides Malayalam, he also worked in Tamil, appearing in several movies despite not having much grasp of the language. In an old interview, Nazir himself opened up about his entry into the Tamil film industry and how the words of veteran actor and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MG Ramachandran (popularly known by his initials as MGR) gave him confidence.

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“I got my first offer from Tamil in 1957. I commenced my journey as an actor with the Malayalam movie Marumakal (1952). I faced the camera for the first time on December 26, 1951. Thai Pirandhal Vazhi Pirakkum was my first Tamil movie. It was while working on one of my films that I met MGR for the first time. Once we got acquainted, he really liked me and asked, ‘Why are you confining yourself to Malayalam? You can come work here in Tamil as well, right?’ In the limited Tamil I knew, I replied that I was not fluent in the language. Hearing that, he said, ‘This much Tamil is quite enough to act in movies.’ Meanwhile, I was approached by producer AK Velan with the offer to play one of the lead roles in his movie Thai Pirandhal Vazhi Pirakkum, where SS Rajendran would play the other character,” Nazir recalled.

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Although he informed Velan that his Tamil was quite weak and even spoke to him in the language to demonstrate this, Nazir said the filmmaker was nonetheless fine with it and asked him to head to Tamil Nadu immediately. “I went to Chennai 3-4 days later, signed the contract, and did the movie. Thai Pirandhal Vazhi Pirakkum became a huge hit,” he shared, adding that a flood of offers came his way soon enough.

Besides Malayalam, Prem Nazir also worked in Tamil, appearing in several movies despite not having much grasp of the language.

Prem Nazir with MGR, Sivaji Ganesan and Rajkumar. (X/@gmkhighness)

“I went there to do just one film, but ended up signing around 55 in just one year,” Prem Nazir noted. He subsequently appeared in movies like Nalla Idathu Sammandham, Naan Valartha Thangai, Peria Koil, Arumai Magal Abirami, Uzhavukkum Thozhilukkum Vandhanai Seivom, Orey Vazhi, Kalyanikku Kalyanam, Koodi Vazhnthal Kodi Nanmai, Sahodhari, Irumanam Kalanthal Thirumanam, Paavai Vilakku and Muradan Muthu, working alongside veteran actors like Sivaji Ganesan, MR Radha, MN Rajam, Saroja Devi and Ragini, among others.

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